Camera

"A brother, I had a twin brother. Why can't I remember him", questioning myself. 

"Sweetie, are you okay in there", my mother asked from the distance. I quickly hid the picture in my pocket and closed the box. 

"Yes mom", I replied. 

Finding my way into the house, I sat down with her. My head ringing at this new revelation.

"Now, how do I approach this to my mother, what's my best play here", thinking to myself. 

I knew for a fact, that if I plainly asked her I'd get a negative response and rather not the truth I need. But thankfully while I was thinking of my next play, an idea struck me. 

"Hey mom, you know that family picture you gave me when I moved out. So I have a friend who wants to take a picture with her family too, so could you tell me the name of the place we took ours", I asked her. 

As she gave me the information I followed it up with another question, "Uhm,  do you remember the name of the particular photographer who took our picture. I'd feel more comfortable with a familiar face" 

She paused for a second, before telling me, " Uhm I don't really remember dear, my memory is a bit dim"

She was lying, I could tell. I've known her for that long. She bites her bottom lip every time she lies. 

Seeing that this was a dead end, I took the only information that she gave me and went on my way. 

Finding the photo studio was quite easy. I walked into the place, with no clue on how to find this person. 

"How does he or she even look like", asking myself. 

Suddenly I hear my name, "Alex, is that you"

 I looked to see a sweet old lady, wearing a friendly smile.

"Sorry, have we met before", I asked her. 

"You must not remember me, but of course you were only a child. My name is Mary. I took your family picture some years ago", she responded. 

Wow, what luck that I found her so quickly. Immediately I asked her about that picture, asking her what she remembers. 

"A Sunday afternoon it was, your family were my last customers. Such a beautiful family. Such sweet boys", she told me.  But as she said that last part, there was a hint of fear. As though to say she wasn't supposed to say that. 

"You said boys, who are you referring to", I asked. 

"Oooooh, did I say that. Must of been a slip of the tongue. This silly old brain of mine", she replied. 

But again, just like my mother I could tell she was lying. I've grown a bit of an art for it. 

We spoke for a little while, but there was no point of poking her for more information.

 In her eyes was a fear, a fear of something happening to her if she spoke the truth. 

But during our whole conversation, I could tell that fear was of some one. For every time she mentioned my mother, there was an unease with her voice.

Eventually I stepped outside, concluding that the source of all this is my dear mother, something is up. But I can't ask her. 

Yet there's someone I knew best to ask. 

My Auntie, my mother's younger sister.

They never once got along as I was growing up. As a child I never understood why. But I could use that to my advantage, especially with my auntie plotting against my mother. Something my mother used to cry about. She could give me the answers I need. 

 And as I looked back into the studio from outside through the window. I noticed Mary holding a camera in her hands, her face filled with concern. 

"That camera must hold secrets" I told myself as I walked away. 

"I've seen a devil and she wears a dress, 

She walked into this studio and gave this studio a distress. 

A husband walking next to her, hiding fear. 

He trails behind her never to come near.

I've seen a devil and she pretends to be sweet. 

She controls the house, dresses all her boys so neat. 

My lens seen deep into her eyes,

Mary, Mary, Mary, I told you not to take these customers.  You've added risk into both our lives. 

For now when the one child was lost she threatened you to lose memory of him. 

She threatened the whole town too. We pretend the child to be a dream. 

I've seen a devil and she wears a dress. 

Hold dear to the Truth dear Mary. Best not to confess"

_Camera